PRO/CON: Is the tar-sands pipeline from Canada a good idea for Southeast Texas?

ENTERPRISE OPINIONS

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, May 18, 2010

OUR VIEW: Pipeline from Canada worth supporting

Southeast Texans have no reason to oppose a plan to bring tar sands from Canada to Nederland via pipeline. In fact, they should welcome the proposal.

The plan meshes with the region's existing network of pipelines and refineries. One more project won't harm anything, environmentally or otherwise. It will, however, bring more paychecks. If Southeast Texas turns down this bonanza, those jobs will go somewhere else.

The growing catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico reinforces the need to emphasize oil production and distribution on land, where it's much easier to fix problems. As a representative of the federal Office of Pipeline Safety noted at Monday's hearing on the issue, pipelines are usually safe.

Canadian tar sands are mixtures of sand or clay with bitumen, a dense form of petroleum. They represent an intriguing new form of energy production with much potential. Southeast Texas should be part of this venture for as long as it lasts.

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ANOTHER VIEW: Don't increase our air pollution

The last thing Southeast Texas needs is another refining project that could prevent us from complying with clean air standards. The region is struggling now to stay under federal limits, which are getting stricter all the time.

If the region fails this challenge, we face punitive sanctions that include bans on new road construction or even tailpipe inspections of personal cars and trucks. Everyone will be complaining if that happens, but it will be too late. We should prevent that now while we can.

This ridiculously long pipeline seems like an accident waiting to happen. If it fails - or "when," according to some analysts - some unlucky place will have thousands of gallons of gooey sludge to clean up. It's true that pipelines are generally safe, but that was said about offshore drilling until April 20.

Southeast Texas needs to diversify its economy with cleaner jobs. This proposal is a step backward that will drive away the kind of investment we want to attract.

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FEEDBACK: What do you think? Is this pipeline carrying tar sands good for Southeast Texas or not? Post your comments below now.